Meeting called to order by Mayor Edwards at 6:00pm.

Present were Mayor Harold M. Edwards, Jr., Councilman Randall Wright, Councilman Edward Tucker and Councilman Robert Smith, Jr.  Also present, City Administrator Patrick Eidson and City Attorney Rebecca Tydings.  Absent Councilman Cameron Andrews (school duties) and City Clerk Krista Bedingfield (attending out of town training/seminar). 

Discussion Repairs on Pavilion:  Councilman Randall Wright reported that Centerville Sanitation has done work (provision of labor & materials) to rehab pavilion.  Keep Centerville Beautiful will be donating $500.00 to re-roof pavilion; total cost to re-roof the pavilion is $1250.00.  Councilman Wright made the recommendation that city pay remainder $750.00 for roofing and repairs.   All the work on the pavilion is being done in preparation for upcoming community events planned by Jeanne Bauer.  Expenditure would come from the Enterprise Contingency Fund ( Water & Sewer).

Centerville Police Department/DEA Detachment:  Councilman Tucker stated there is a need for Centerville to participate by assigning an officer to the DEA because of the growing problems with drugs in the local and surrounding Macon/ Bibb County communities.  The DEA has requested that the City of Centerville designate one officer to be assigned to the DEA task force.  The officer’s salary and benefits would continue to be paid by the City of Centerville with the DEA, under specific circumstances, reimbursing for some overtime incurred by the officer as a result of DEA work.   Councilman Tucker stated that the Centerville Police Department and the DEA have a great working relationship.  Councilman Tucker met with Chief Cooper and City Administrator Eidson to discuss how this could be implemented.  Councilman Tucker recognized Chief Cooper to answer any questions the Council might have.

Chief Cooper explained to the Mayor and Council how the plan would be implemented without necessitating hire of another officer to replace the individual assigned to the DEA.  Currently the Police Department staff consists of a (12) man unit assigned to work patrol - (4 )sergeants and (8) patrol officers.    Each shift consists of at least one Sergeant and one Officer.  Chief Cooper explained that they have created a split shift that runs from 12pm-12am and overlaps with the normal day shift crew (6am-6pm) and the normal night shift crew (6 pm – 6am) in order to have an extra person on patrol during the hours when traffic and crime typically peak.  There are two split shift crews, consisting of (2) officers who report to (2) Sergeants. Chief Cooper also point out the great benefit of having the officer who is assigned to the DEA be able to take advantage of various training seminars that our officers would not normally be eligible to attend.  The knowledge and special skills gained by the officer will be invaluable to the Police Department. 

City Administrator Eidson reiterated his understand that Chief Cooper would not be making any requests for additional personnel due to the DEA assignment and that, furthermore, Chief Cooper had made it clear that the City could call the assigned officer back to duty here without penalty if necessary in spite of the contract with the DEA.

Councilman Tucker stated this is a great opportunity for the city.

Mayor Edwards adjourned meeting adjourned at 6:22pm.

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Mayor Harold M. Edwards, Jr.                                                          Date

 
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Attest by: City Clerk Krista Bedingfield